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SAIC-GM-Wuling Launches Hong Guang S MPV In China

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Since its launch in 2010, the Hong Guang has been a runaway success for the joint venture partners, becoming the best-selling compact MPV in the country, and the Hong Guang S aims to build on the nameplate’s sales triumph by serving the needs of families and businesses for a vehicle that blends seven seats, a roomy interior of a minivan, and the comfort and convenience of a passenger vehicle.

A Freshened Exterior

The most noticeable difference of the Hong Guang S compared to the “non-S” model is an updated exterior design that features an updated front end with a Chevrolet-style chrome-plated bar, rhombus-shaped mesh grille, ladder-like lower air inlet grille and “big mouth” fender. “Eagle eye” headlights and feather-shaped fog lights round out the updates.

An Updated Interior

Complementing the freshened exterior is an updated interior, with a wraparound cockpit in beige and light gray as well as piano gloss and chrome accents that add a sense of refinement and sophistication.

The center console features a multifunctional 7-inch HD touchscreen and a retro-style crystal clock. A three-spoke steering wheel, six-way adjustable seats, central locking, power windows, and an advanced electric power steering system round out the cabin’s noteworthy features. According to SAIC-GM-Wuling, “engineers addressed noise, vibration and harshness to provide an exceptionally quiet interior.”

Two Engine Choices

The Hong Guang S offers a choice of two engines — a 1.2L or 1.5L P-TEC. The 1.5L unit produces maximum power of 82 kW (110 horsepower) and maximum torque of 146.5 Nm (108 lb-ft) at 3,600-4,200 RPM, while consuming an average of 7.5 liters of fuel per 100 km (31.36 MPG, according to our convestions).

Handling, As Tuned By… Lotus!

The MPV sports a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link setup in the rear that, get this, “has been finely tuned by Lotus to maximize maneuverability and smooth operation.”

Basically Safe

Among the safety equipment found on the the Hong Guang S are anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, dual air bags, and ISOFIX anchor points for child safety seats. Over 80 percent of the MPV’s body is made of ultra-high-strength steel, and laser-welding technology is used on the inside panels of the front and rear doors for added protection in the event of a collision. Sure, the van doesn’t feature ten airbags or high-tech active collision prevention systems like of GM’s other products, but then again, this is an affordable, mainstream, entry-level vehicle for the world’s biggest car market (by volume).

Reasonably Priced

The Hong Guang S will offer three trim levels (USD conversions as of August 22):

1.2L Comfort — priced at RMB 61,800 ($10,096 USD)

1.5L Comfort — priced at RMB 65,800 ($10,749 USD)

1.5L Luxury — priced at RMB 69,800 ($11,403 USD)

The vehicle will be sold alongside the Hong Guang (non-S model) at both Wuling dealerships and the more than 30 Baojun 4S stores around China.

The GM Authority Take

Depending on how you look at it, China might have some questionable or even downright draconian business policies as it relates to the automotive industry at large (like forcing non-Chinese automakers to partner with local ones, and then split profits, among other things). But the one benefit for GM, furnished by the country’s insatiable desire for anything on wheels, surrounds equipping The General with the ability to count sales of its various joint venture partners into its global sales and market share number, oftentimes making it the biggest-volume automaker globally, even though GM has little to no involvement in developing the product to begin with. Wuling is one of those joint ventures.

So in that vein, here’s to another three years of best-in-segment sales.

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4 Comments

This Wuling MPV is only slightly smaller than the Opel Zafira Tourer, another MPV from the worldwide GM empire, announced for China 9 days after the Hong Guang S’ announcement. But where the Hong Guong S’ maximum prices is 69’800 RMB, to get the imported Opel Zafira one needs to shell out between RMB 269,900 and RMB 309,900.

I wouldn’t say GM doesn’t have anything to do with Wuling. I am sure they are incorporating GM production and quality processes and in the future will use old GM plaforms, powertrains, and various components from proven retired vehicles.

Why would GM not have their hand in future engineering when the engineering is already done? Two current examples come to mind, 1) The Baojun 630 sure looks like a Saturn LS with an old Chevy 1.8 litre engine. 2) The Buick GL8 is based off of the Venture which was made in Atlanta and shutdown in 2005.

Don’t be fooled, the GM parts bin is filling even the high end Wuling above.

I just stumbled over the presentation of the Chevrolet Enjoy by GM India and found that it looks the same as this Chinese Wuling Hong Guang S and has the same dimensions, except having 10 cm less in length, which might be explained by different safety regulations by the Indian and Chinese governments.

Remains the questions: where and by whom has this car been developed? And what is its relationship with the Chevrolet Spin, developed by GM do Brasil with input from GM in South East Asia, which has similar dimensions and a similar purpose.

I think that these Indian and Chinese MPVs are one of the products of the GM/SAIC partnership to develop cars for both China and India; the other fruit of this partnership being the current Chevrolet Sail, which is developed by PATAC but also with participation of GM India: “The Sail U-Va hatchback is built on a new global small passenger car platform created especially for fast-growing emerging markets, including India. Engineers at the GM Technical Center-India in Bangalore spent nearly two years adapting the platform for India to ensure that it would meet the requirements of the Indian market and Indian car buyers.” (GM India info on the Chevrolet Sail).